Natural regeneration after harvest and residue treatment in a mixed conifer forest of northwestern Montana

In 1974, two clearcuts, two shelterwoods, and two sets of eight group selec tions (equally divided between two elevation zones) were harvested on the C oram Experimental Forest in northwestern Montana. Four levels of tree and r esidue utilization were compared. Moist fuels on approximately half of each area were poorly burned by prescribed fires in September 1975. Natural reg eneration on these treatments was compared in 1979, 1987, and 1992. Regener ation of western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) began in 1975 on soil exp osed during yarding of logs and continued mostly in 1977 and 1979 on these scarified sites and other burned areas. Competing vegetation curtailed esta blishment of larch seedlings much past 1979 on these sites. Few Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) France) regenerated before 1979 but aggress ively established through 1992. Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt) regeneration began in 197 9 and is increasing slowly throughout the area. Western hemlock (Tsuga hete rophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) and western red cedar (Thuja plicata Donn.) also slo wly regenerate moister areas of the lower elevation units.